Dfine Hinduism? who is a hindu? what shud he believe in?

Answer 1

Hinduism is known as Sanatana Dharma. Sanatana means eternal. Dharma means Righteousness and good moral and ethical practices in accordance with the scriptures. Includes all duties -- individual, social and religious.

Sanatana-dharma means both the ultimate spiritual truth and the means to attain it. And that truth is the divine knowledge of the soul. So if there is to be any eternality in our relationships, or any spiritual connection with anything we do, it has to be based on that divine knowledge of the soul, the ultimate reality. That is the path of Sanatana-dharma, to realize our spiritual identity and then know how to act accordingly.


Anyone who follows certain basic beliefs is a hindu. They are listed below:

*Who believe in an all-pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and transcedent, both Creator and Unmanifest reality. The supreme reality becomes manifest in various aspects and forms, and is known by various names. There are various ways by which individuals, in accordance with his/her temperament can realize God.

*believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own destiny by thoughts, words and deeds.

*believe in Dharma, Righteousness and good moral and ethical practices in accordance with the scriptures. Includes all duties -- individual, social and religious.

*believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas have been resolved.

*believe that all souls are evolving towards union with God and will ultimately find moksha: spiritual knowledge and liberation from cycle of rebirth. Not a single soul will be eternally deprived of this destiny.

*believe in Humanism, Equality of all human beings, regardless of caste, color and creed. Respect and reverence for womanhood.

*believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore practice ahimsa or nonviolence.

*believe that no particular religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others, but that all genuine religious paths are facets of God's pure love and light, deserving tolerance and understanding.


Also follow some observances like:
# Patience, firmness and stability (Dhruti)

# Forgiveness (Kshama)

# Self-control and contentment (Dama)

# Not to steal or conceal, or be selfish (Asteya)

# Cleanliness, purity and honesty (Saucham)

# Control over senses and sexual energy (Indriya Nigraha)

# Right knowledge of the scripture (Dhee)

# Material and spiritual knowledge or study (Vidya)

# Truth (Satya)

# Absence of anger (Akrodha)

Answer 2

Hinduism is actually an offshoot of Sanatan Dharma. They were called so because they the religion was broadly practiced on banks of river Sindhu. Hindus mostly follow Sanatan Dharma. Hindu believes in worshipping the God almighty and living in harmony with nature and all the other living beings.

Answer 3

Hinduism is science. It is not a religion. It is how a human should live his life. Religion is science . Than only one would understand nature and our surronding and us. If one follows one own's religous faith piously he is an hindu. Sanatan dharma. The nature of law.

Answer 4

Hindu is a polytheistic religion, meaning they worship many Gods. They believe there is a Supreme God named Brahma, based after the Bulls they hold in such reverence.

They believe in reincarnation, feeling that when you die, if you have not reached enlightenment, then you are reborn. The worse you are in each life, the worse your next life is. The top "caste" or level, are the Priests and politicians, then warriors, merchants, the poor, then the Untouchables, a caste so lowly that to touch them is sin.

Very interesting mythology if I do say so.

Answer 5

Hinduism is to love the God almighty. See the presence of that God in every living entity and love everyone around you.

Answer 6

All about Hinduism can be find at -> http://hinduism.iskcon.com/

Answer 7

A hindu is a guy that has several names like *********, Ramsey, Beatlejuice and also makes fun of Christians by pretending to be Christian. Yet Delete questions about Christmas! Since they worship many forms they have many ID'S and make Christians and Muslims Fight!

Answer 8

Hinduism: can be best defined as Sanatana Dharma... something which exists from times immemorial. Hinduism does not have a beginning... it exists ever since Humanity came into existence. The bane of Hinduism is Dharma... which also forms the base of all Religions existing on Mother Earth. No Religion can ever survive without a Dharma. Dharma is the root of all Religions. Why?

Talking of Jainism we cannot understand the basics without delving into the Life of the 24th Tirthankara Bhagwan Mahavira. It was only in the time of the 24th Tirthankara Bhagwan Mahavira that Jainism rightly came into existence. Whatever form of Jainism existed before the 24th Tirthankara was limited to the Spiritual Masters only. All that was knowable to these Spiritual Masters was not available to the masses for the prime reason that the intellect of a common man was not as developed as was required to fathom the depths of the Sacred Wisdom we know as jaina doctrines.

During the times of Bhagwan Mahavira... the common masses came to understand what was being taught by the masters of the era. Gradually as the momentum picked up... the followers of Jaina doctrine came to be known as Jains and the following Jainism. Before Bhagwan Mahavira the existence of Jainism as such did not hold good as it was only limited to the Spiritual Masters of the day.


Similarly, the Teachings of Gautama Buddha came to be known as Buddhism and its followers Buddhists. Buddhism is also known as the eightfold path. Gautama Buddha advocated the eightfold path also known as the middle path for he realized that not while living in the family and nor while attempting the Life of the dense forests could one gain knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures. He advocated maintaining a balance between the two and advised the common man to take the middle path. Neither getting totally immersed in family Life nor practicing austere practices to its extreme.

We need to understand that before the advent of Gautama Buddha... there was nothing we can call as Buddhism. The Teachings of Gautama Buddha primarily form the core Teachings of Buddhism. The existence of Buddhism Religion... the following of Gautama Buddha came into being only after the advent of Gautama Buddha.

In Christianity also, the core Teachings of the Bible contain the Essence of the Teachings of Jesus Christ and his trusted followers. Before the advent of Jesus Christ nothing existed on Mother Earth we could call as Christianity. The following of Jesus Christ is known as Christianity and the followers Christians.


Similarly, before the advent of Prophet Mohammed there existed nothing we could call as Islam. The advent of Islamic Dharma came into being after Prophet Mohammed and his Teachings came into the scene. The followers of the Islamic Dharma are called Islamists and also Muslims and the Teachings of Prophet Mohammed are contained in the sacred book of Islamic Dharma, the Koran.

Now even before the advent of Prophet Mohammed, Jesus Christ, Gautama Buddha and Bhagwan Mahavira... the Humanity existed and that too without the help of any Religion. Why so? Because, no Religion existed before the advent of Bhagwan Mahavira... the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. Whatever existed was the eternal Dharma. In short, the Definition Dharma can be stated as, "our right to do what is just and right and not what were destined". This right of Dharma gives freedom to every individual Human Being to live an independent Life. One may belong to any Religion, caste or creed... the eternal Dharma is always there to guide us on the right path. More on hinduism here- http://www.godrealized.com/Hinduism.html

Answer 9

Everyone is a hindu whether the believe it or not.

Answer 10

Not me! :P